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THE COMPUTERISED SCORING SYSTEM WILL BE SCRAPPED

KO for computerised scoring

The computerised scoring system designed for boxing at the London Olympics will be scrapped after the Games later this year.

International Amateur Boxing Association president Ching-Kuo Wu is determined to bring the amateur ranks more in line with professional boxing and he believes kicking out rigid computer scoring is essential.

Headguards for male boxers are also set to disappear after the London Games.

The association will launch AIBA Professional Boxing (APB) in 2013, which will mean amateurs can earn money from the sport without turning to the established sanctioning bodies of the professional game.

The computerised scoring system, developed to reduce the risk of bouts being rigged at London 2012, was used for the first time at last year's men's world championships.

Despite being described by Wu as "impossible to manipulate" it will be replaced by the "10-points must" system used in professional boxing.

"The current scoring system is based on the punches landed, so the judge has no other way to judge the boxer," Wu said this week.

In the "10-points must” system the style of the boxers and their fighting spirit are also taken into consideration.

"At the moment there's no way to judge these boxers as performers, showing their style,” Wu said, adding that referees and judges would be trained to use the new system.

"We have to have a process. In AIBA, everybody involved on the technical side, technical officials, referees, judges, have to pass an examination. The most important job is to establish the system."

The AIBA launched World Series Boxing three years ago. It makes it possible for boxers to be paid to compete for 12 city-based franchises.

Wu said APB was another step towards bridging the gap between the amateur and professional ranks.

"In the APB boxers can compete until they're 40 years old, so this is an excellent opportunity for them.

“They will have financial stability and receive a regular salary. At the moment, good boxers may be finished early in their career. With the APB, they'd still be within the AIBA family.

"They can return to amateur and if the Olympics come, they can join the Olympics then return to APB or WSB."

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